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A Guide to Legal Aid
What is Legal Aid of North Carolina?
Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) is a law firm that serves people with low incomes.
The Program provides free legal assistance to North Carolinians. Each
LANC office has
lawyers, paralegals and other staff who know how to help low-income people
resolve their legal problems. [For more information on
LANC, see
"About Us".]
How can I get legal assistance?
Click here
("Get Legal Help") to find the office that serves
your county and their phone number. Your income must be below a certain
amount to get legal representation. LANC staff can help you find out if we can
assist you.
Can I get help if I speak a language other than English?
LANC provides free language interpretation for applicants and clients who need
it.
What legal problems does LANC handle?
LANC handles civil (non-criminal) cases. Attorneys and paralegals help clients
with problems involving family violence, housing, healthcare, ,public benefits,
family, school issues and many more. LANC attorneys do not handle criminal
cases. Contact your local
LANC office to learn about the types of cases it handles. Many more people seek help than LANC can serve. Each office handles the
kinds of cases that are the most important locally. The offices get
recommendations from
clients and other community members and organizations on local needs. Each
office then decides what types of cases it can accept. If the office cannot help
you, it may be able to refer you to someone who can. Legal Aid of North Carolina
does not handle criminal cases. You may be able to get a court-appointed lawyer
or a public defender to help you with a criminal case.
Will legal help cost me money?
The legal work done for you will be free, but there may be other costs. Filing
your case in court or placing a legal notice in the newspaper could cost money.
You may be asked to pay these costs. Your lawyers will discuss any costs with
you.
Is my relationship with LANC confidential?
Yes. Anything you tell your attorney or paralegal is private. To handle you case
however, your attorney or paralegal may need to tell certain facts to others. If
you have questions, ask your lawyer.
How can I help my lawyer or paralegal?
Let your lawyer or paralegal know right away if you receive any papers from the
sheriff or a court.
Give your lawyer or paralegal all papers that have anything to do with your
legal problem. This includes legal papers, contracts, letters, or other papers.
Tell your lawyer or paralegal all the facts about your legal problem. This helps
them advise you about your case.
Tell your lawyer or paralegal if your address or telephone number changes.
Always call for an appointment with your lawyer or paralegal.
Is there a way I can make a complaint?
You have the right to complain about being turned down for service. You also
have the right to complain about the services you receive. LANC has complaint
procedures. Talk to the manager of your
local
LANC office. The manager must tell you
in writing how to make a complaint. He or she must help you if you need help in
making your complaint.
The Legal Aid of North Carolina
complaint procedures cover lawyers and
paralegals. You may also make a complaint to your local Clients Council or the
Statewide North Carolina Clients Council. The managing attorney can tell you how
to get in touch with the Clients Council.
You may also make a complaint to the
State Bar of North Carolina about the
service and attorney gives you.
Disclaimer
The materials contained on this website are for information and educational
purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Please contact your Legal Aid
of North Carolina office or a private attorney if you need to speak to an
attorney regarding your particular situation. See our complete
disclaimer.
Mission Statement
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides
free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure
equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.